How long must my passport still be valid when I enter a country?
The short answer
Each country decides for itself. Many countries require your passport to be valid for at least six months beyond the end of your trip, others three months or just for the length of your stay; within the EU, an ID card is often enough for Germans. The destination country’s entry requirements are binding – for German citizens, the German Foreign Office (Auswärtiges Amt) summarises them.
Updated: November 11, 2026 · wemake.holiday travel guide
How to check the rule for your destination
- 1 Open the German Foreign Office’s travel and safety advice for the country.
- 2 Read the “Einreise und Zoll” (entry and customs) section – it lists travel documents and minimum validity.
- 3 Compare your passport’s expiry date with the end of your trip.
- 4 For children: check their own documents and any rules for minors.
If your passport is cutting it close
A new passport takes several weeks in Germany; for urgent cases there’s the express passport and the temporary passport – but not every country accepts the temporary one. So apply early.
How to do it with wemake.holiday
Entry & health
Advice from the German Foreign Office for every country on your trip: safety, entry, customs, health – plus a precautions list.
More questions
Does wemake.holiday show until when my passport should be valid?
In the trip planner under “Entry & health” there’s a reference date six months after the end of your trip for comparison – the destination country’s rule remains authoritative.
Does this also apply to non-Germans?
The German Foreign Office’s advice applies to German citizens. Citizens of other countries should check with the destination country’s embassy or consulate.